Once touted as a potential top pick in this year's NBA draft, Kentucky basketball freshman Justin Edwards revealed on Thursday night that he will officially declare for the 2024 draft.
Despite a decline in Edwards' draft stock throughout the 2023-24 season, his choice to enter the 2024 draft was anticipated.
Justin Edwards declaring for the NBA Draft
Edwards posted on his Instagram sharing his latest career update.
“Big Blue Nation,
This season, my experience in Lexington, thanks to my coaches, my teammates, and you the fans, has been everything I dreamed it would be. I am so grateful to have been a part of the legendary Kentucky program, getting to represent the blue and white with everything I have. Thank you to the Wildcat community for embracing me from my arrival and making Kentucky feel like home.
I need to specifically shout out my family for their unwavering support throughout my journey, which has fueled me every step of the way. To my brothers and teammates, thank you for being there and working alongside me each and every today. To Coach Calipari and the entire coaching staff, thank you for pushing me to be the best version of myself.
After careful consideration and with a deep appreciation for the opportunities and experiences I've had here in Kentucky, Have decided to take a significant step in my basketball career. With much gratitude, I am excited to announce my decision to declare for the NBA Draft.”
Turning 20 years old in December, Edwards did not mention the potential of returning for another season at Kentucky, indicating his intent to remain in the 2024 NBA draft pool.
Edwards becomes the second Kentucky player to make a statement about his immediate basketball plans. Adou Thiero recently entered the transfer portal and expressed his intention to enter the NBA draft, while also considering a potential return to Kentucky for his junior season.
Up and down season for Edwards and Kentucky
During the past season, Edwards posted averages of 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, shooting 48.6% from the field, 36.5% from three-point range, and 77.6% from the free-throw line while starting 30 out of 32 games for the Wildcats.
Edwards had 13 double-digit scoring performances, notably excelling in five of his last seven games. However, his standout moment occurred during a 117-95 victory against No. 13 Alabama on Feb. 24. In that game, he achieved a perfect 10 of 10 shooting from the field, including 4 of 4 from beyond the arc, en route to a career-high 28 points which earned him the SEC Freshman of the Week nod.
The Kentucky basketball freshman also scored 17 points during a game against Vanderbilt and added 16 points in Kentucky's crucial 85-81 victory over No. 4 Tennessee in the regular season finale.
Edwards contributed 10 points in just 16 minutes during Kentucky's season-ending loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament.
Hailing from Imhotep Charter School in Philadelphia, Edwards was highly regarded as the top-ranked small forward and the third overall prospect in the 2023 class, as per the industry's average ranking by 247Sports Composite.
ESPN currently places Justin Edwards at No. 30, which is the final pick of the first round, on its list of the top 100 prospects for the upcoming NBA draft. Similarly, other credible mock drafts also project him in a comparable position in their rankings.
Since 2010, Kentucky has stood out as the leading school in producing top NBA draft picks, boasting three No. 1 overall picks, 15 top-10 picks, 23 lottery picks, 35 first-round picks, and a total of 47 NBA Draft selections.
Additionally, since the NBA adopted a two-round draft format in 1989, Kentucky has amassed the highest number of players drafted overall, totaling 63 players, with 46 of them selected in the first round.
College players who declare for the NBA draft while retaining their eligibility will have until May 29 to finalize their decision.
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